Should Our Benefit Money Be Shipped Abroad?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2632914/Child-benefit-worth-30million-paid-Britain-families-EU-Cameron-admits-impossible-stop-it.html

Here is £30m that could be given out in benefits to our needy families.

[Ken4155]

Is it not also true that British pensioners living abroad still qualify for the cold weather payments?

[knowabit]

Yes, but those pensioners lived and worked here most of their lives... why can people claim for children in other countries? Surely child benefit should be for children who are born or live in the UK? It does seem strange...

[Ken4155]

knowabit; i'm not disputing that. I'm pointing out that millions of pounds are in COLD WEATHER winter payments are paid to pensioners who have retired to warmer climes. I thought that such payments were so that our elderly citizens could afford to eat and heat during the bleak winter months.

[viv38]

I always champion pensioners rights as my lovely parents are pensioners and Dad worked hard all his life beyond pensionable age, BUT I don't think pensioners living in warmer climes should get the winter fuel benefit.

I agree AOG that £30m would be better spent here.

[Ken4155]

^^

Ahh. ***'s back

[jackthehat]

I think Ken 4155 makes a fair point.

If you object to money from the public purse being paid out legally and legitimately (whether you approve, or not) to entitled children overseas.....why do you not object to money from the public purse being paid out to ex-pat pensioners?

I understand that we will now get an influx of posters telling us just how jolly chilly it gets overseas and why those pensioners deserve the cold-weather payments, but the point still stands...

[anotheoldgit]

divebuddy

Now to be fair divebuddy, Ken4155 has a valid point and it is all to do with money wasted in benefits sent abroad.

[Ken4155]

I was merely pointing out that the £30m is not the only money being squandered.

[Sqad]

knowabit also makes a fair point.

[emmie]

both points are valid, those who have moved abroad likely paid their dues, whilst those who reside here yet their children don't shouldn't get money from the pot.

[emmie]

moved abroad to retire from the fray perhaps -

[Sqad]

From 2015 the cold weather payments for exPats will cease.

[emmie]

really i didn't know that, so no good moving to Spain then. oh well

[Sqad]

emmie.....LOL don't bother.
Unemployment a problem.
Health service...crap.
Full of Spaniards.

Naah! stay where you are.

[emmie]

whereas London is full to bursting with people from just about every country on the planet.

[emmie]

unemployment is high here,
NHS leaves much to be desired,
weather currently bloody awful

i quite like the Spanish, and the food.

[berniecuddles]

^^LOL^^